JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Defending New Jersey Athletic Conference champion Kean University put away 36 kills and swept a conference match from New Jersey City University, 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-17) on September 20 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. NJCU led the third set, 10-3, before Kean rallied to win in three.
 
The Cougars won their sixth in a row, improving to 10-3 (3-0 NJAC) as five different players collected at least five kills. That allowed Kean to hit .280 and post a 36-18 differential in kills. A strong service effort was highlighted by 13 aces. NJCU dropped to 3-8 (0-3 NJAC).
 
Sophomore middle hitter Zoe Strozewski (Mount Prospect, Ill.) led the attack with nine kills (.333) for the Cougars and junior setter Brianna Calvano (Williamstown, N.J.) was efficient, dishing 30 assists in 60 attempts (.500) while adding nine digs and three aces.
 
Senior right side Andrea Antal (River Edge, N.J.) contributed seven kills and All-NJAC senior outside hitter Vikki Stec (Elmwood Park, N.J.) collected six kills and four blocks (two solo). Sophomore Sarah Sample (Erie, Pa.) and junior Jess Iacona (Colonia, N.J.) each landed four aces.
 
Senior outside Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) had 11 digs and senior setter Shaylah Ware (Newark, NJ/Science Park) totaled 16 assists and four aces. Junior outside Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) was the kills leader with seven, hitting .120.
 
NJCU kept it close in the first set before Kean, leading 16-15, got three straight kills, including two in a row by Strozewski, to open a 20-15 lead and prevailed by six. Kean led 16-11 in the second set before scoring the next four points and finished the game on a 9-1 run.
 
The Knights opened a 10-3 lead in game three behind the serving of Duque and a double block by junior right side Pamela Florimon (Teaneck, NJ/Memorial) and senior middle Naiomi Cintron gave NJCU momentum. Kean scored the next five points, including back-to-back kills by Stec, to draw within two and trailed 15-13 midway through the period. But a late run again was the difference. Seven straight Cougar points, mostly behind the serving of Calvano, put the guests back in control, including two kills in a row by Antal, for a 20-15. Kean scored the final five points of the match to finish the evening with a 12-2 outburst.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 43rd meeting. Kean leads 36-7 and has won the last nine meetings since 2010.
• Kean reached double figures in all four sets, highlighted by 14 in the second game when it hit .550 as a team and had a stellar 76 percent sideout ratio (10-13).
• Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) reached double figures in digs for the 36th time in her career.
• O'Donnell has 771 career digs; she is 19th in school history in the category. Next on the list is Lucille Villaplana (2002-04) with 788.

 
UP NEXT:
NJCU is idle until Tuesday, September 25 (7 p.m.) when it heads to Galloway, N.J. for a matchup with longtime NJAC powerhouse Stockton.
 
GOTHIC KNIGHTS on SOCIAL MEDIA:
For the latest on NJCU women's volleyball and #NJCUWVB, follow the Gothic Knights on social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and SnapChat. Preferred hashtags are #GothicGameDay and #GothicFamily.